Glow ⭐⭐

Key Takeaways

• Period & Ovulation Tracking: Glow provides cycle tracking, fertility predictions, and community support. It uses a data-driven algorithm to forecast ovulation and period dates but lacks transparency on the medical sources behind its predictions.

• Data Privacy: The app has faced multiple controversies regarding user privacy and data handling, including user concerns raised by privacy watchdogs in 2020.

• User Experience: The interface is engaging and social, with a large user base and forum feature. However, the heavy focus on community and upselling may feel overwhelming or triggering for some users.

• Verdict: While Glow offers robust tracking and community, its data practices and lack of transparency in content verification bring it below a doctor-approved threshold.

Medical Integrity

• Score: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  Glow provides fertility insights and symptom tracking but does not clearly cite medical sources or partner with verifiable medical professionals in the development of its core algorithm.

Doctor’s Note: Apps in the women’s health space must go beyond surface-level symptom checkers. Glow does not sufficiently disclose whether its predictions are clinically reviewed or medically supervised.

Ethical Standards

• Score: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  The app’s aggressive upselling, in-app ads, and emotionally manipulative language in parts of the user journey raise ethical concerns. It’s not always transparent in separating science from community opinion.

Doctor’s Note: Emotional triggers and persuasive design tactics in health apps erode user trust—especially when they relate to fertility and health decisions. Glow blurs the line between support and pressure.

Data Privacy & Protection

• Score: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  Glow’s past issues include a major data privacy investigation in 2020. Though policies have since been updated, transparency is still lacking around third-party sharing and data usage for advertising.

Doctor’s Note: A woman’s reproductive data is not a commodity. Glow needs to radically improve transparency and place greater control in the hands of the user.

UX & Accessibility

• Score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
  The app is vibrant and engaging, with lots of visual customization. But this can be overwhelming. Accessibility features are minimal, and the app is less suitable for users who prefer a calmer, more clinical UX.

Doctor’s Note: Community is powerful—but UX should prioritize emotional safety and clarity over social virality.

Behavioral Impact

• Score: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
  Glow leans heavily on community features and tracking streaks, which may gamify health behaviors. This can lead to anxiety, particularly in users trying to conceive.

Doctor’s Note: Fertility pressure is real, and Glow doesn’t do enough to buffer emotional distress caused by constant engagement loops and pregnancy-focused messaging.

Final Score: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/ 5)

Verdict

Glow delivers on community and tracking features, but it falls short on medical oversight, ethical practices, and data responsibility. It does not meet SheRanked’s criteria for a Doctor’s Approval Badge.

Review Notes

This review is based on the app’s performance as of 14/04/2025. If the app undergoes significant updates or improvements, the developers are welcome to reach out for a re-evaluation, which may lead to a higher score and potentially a SheRanked Doctor’s Approval Badge.

Reviewed by: Dr Christina Davies, SheRanked Doctor-led Review
Review Date: 14/04/2025

Medical Disclaimer:

This review reflects an expert evaluation by a medical doctor, based on the app’s clinical credibility, ethical standards, data protection practices and user safety profile. It is not intended to provide individual medical advice, but rather to assess the app’s integrity and reliability for women’s health use.

Official Website: https://glowing.com